Coding apparatus



Nov. 16, 1943. -w. J, ZENNER 2,334,467

CODING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 1, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. WALTER J. ZENNER BY ATTORNEY Fl lG.

I LA

NOV. 16, 1943. 'w J Z NN "2,334,467

CODING APPARATUS 1 Filed Oct. 1, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENIOR. WALTER .1 ZENNER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 A TORNEY.

w. J. ZENNER CODING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 1, 1941 FIG. 3'

Nov. 16, 1943.

w. J. ZENNER 2.33.4,467

CODING- APPARATUS Nov. 16,4943.

Filed 001;. l, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTQOR. WALTER J. ZENNER BY A ORNEY.

Nov. 16, 1943. ZENN R 2,334,467

CODING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 1, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Q Q FIG. 8 24 [lMIIL l i OOOOOOO INVENTOR. WALTER J. ZENNER Patented Nov. 16, 1943 UNITED .sTA Es PATENT OFFICE.

CODING APPARATUS Walter J. Zenner, Des Plaines, Ill., assigncr to Teletype Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application October 1, 1941, Serial No. 413,079.

17 cl im (or. 177 as)' and telegraph printers whereby fire alarm inforination may be broadcast to a large number of outlying fire stations from a central distributing station to apprise each of said outlying stations of the fact that a fire alarm has been reported to the central station, that the location of the fire is in a particular district, that the fire is of certain proportions, and the number of the closest station thereto. In accordance with the disclosure in said copending application, this information is transmitted over telegraph lines and controls the production of a printed record. 7 Accordingly, when the information is received at the various outlying stations, attendants, in order to learn at once of the facts communicated, read the information printed upon a tape. V

The principal object of the present invention is, accordingly, the provision of apparatus to generate audible fire alarm signals over a plurality of individual circuits under the control of telegraphic signals originating at a central station.

In order that certain information concerning fire alarm broadcasts may be made available to station attendants within hearing range and so as not to require that each attendant personally examine the telegraphically printed record, it is proposed to operate, under the control of the telegraph signals, a secondary signaling apparatus to a telegraph printing system comprising a gong tolling network which may by combinations of gong sounds, relate certain essential information concerning alarm.

In obtaining these and other objects of invention, apparatus is herewith proposed which may respond to a central station keyboard operation by characteristically interrupting a plurality of individual circuits, each of which may be connected to one or more alarm tolling bells, so as to operate all alarm bells in all of said circuits simultaneously, thereby generating a number of gong signals in certain groupings which, by preber of stops and with these acts upon aplurality determined code arrangements, will relate certain information to all within hearing range provided, of course, that the signaling code is understood.

This audibly disseminated information'which may be included also together with other information printed upon the telegraphically operated printer, will usually include such facts as the location of the fire in accordance with apredetermined arrangement of districting, the classification of the fire in terms of degree so as to apprise each'station of the likelihood of apparatus deinands that may be made upon neighboring stations, and the number of the call box from which the alarm originated. i I

In its specific contemplation, the apparatus may be briefly described as a frictionally driven rotary storage transmitter in which a number of peripherally placed shiftable stops are actuable by means of correspondingly placed stationary magnets so as to intercept a variable angle between the point of previous arrestment and the newly selected stop. Thus, no restoration to a zero position is required and as the transmitter moves from previous arrestment itcarries'with it a cam having apexes corresponding to the numof circuit interrupters comprised of mercury switch tubes which make and break on reciprocation. Release of the transmitter is effected by withdrawal of a block from the path of its shiftable stops whereupon a stationary cam releases the shifted stop so that it may resume unset condition.

.For a more comprehensive understanding ,of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and to the following detailed specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout and wherein; u V

Fig. l is a plan view -partially in section of an apparatus that is capable of receiving and storing a numberof signals and in accordance therewith of operating a number of individual circuit [interrupters for generating audible alarm signals t reby; I r

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1; L i i Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 1' and2, certain portions being broken away; 1 1

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken approximately on line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a transversesectional view taken approximately on' line 55 of Fig. 2;

-date herewith. H

In the accompanyingdrawings,the reference character I-I designates generally a signal cod.

ing apparatus unit which consists of a support- 3 ing structure comprise of two parallel side rails iliary system to the one disclosed in the J. E.

Wack et a1. copending application for a fire alarm transmission system, Serial No. 345,260, wherein the propagation of fire alarm Inesagesof a'formal type is proposed to operate telegraph printing apparatus. As explained in said copending application, there is contemplated the provision of apparatus for transmitting time signals to accompany each message so that a record is thereby had of:the precise time'of day that each message is transmitted or received atthe destination station. Also asexplained. in said application, provision is: made for predetermining the length and the number of repetitions of each message under the control of a'permanent setting of the instrumentalities, the individual message information being supplied at each operation in accordance with the manipulation of a keyboard.

:In order to simplify the disclosure and understanding of the instant invention, the following detailed description and the'accompanying draw- [ings are inclusive only of that portion of the apparatus which concerns the present invention,

reference being had to the drawings and specifin .cation of the copending application forsuch matter as is only functionally related thereto. To conform with the requirements of the instant apparatus, a keyboard unitresembling generally the keyboard disclosed in the copending application but having in addition-thereto certain essential modifications to enable it to generatethe signals required to operate the instant apparatus,

have been developed and form the subject matter of acopending application of Raymond B. Smessaert bearing the Serial No. 413,081, file don even [2 and I3 which are traversed by the transversely connecting mount platforms I4 and I 5. An, in-

termediate supporting rail It, Fig. 1, paralleling rails I2 and I3, and also connected to the mount 1 platforms l4 and I5, affords support for a'motor platform I! as well as to a bracket I8 which carries a pair of junction blocks I9 and 2| to'which "the flexible leads-from a plurality of mercury tube switches 22 are electrically connected.

An electric motor 23 which is bolted to platform I1 drives, by means of a worm gear 24, the worm wheel 25 of a power distributing shaft'26 'journaled in the bearing'brackets 21 and 28 and driving with its worm gear 29 a large worn wheel 3 I, the latter member being secured to a principal drive shaft 32 which is journaled in a pair of supporting brackets 33 and 34. I

The armature of motor 23 and shaft 32 rotate :m 'a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3, and this is the direction of motion that shaft 32 tends toimpart toitstwofrictionally driven assemblies 35 and '36. I 1

Assembly 35 consists of aplurality of rotatable cam m m ers int eral yassociated nudriven by means of a pair of driving discs 31 and 33 which impinge upon an endmost cam element I33 and a spacer 4E! of the assembly through the intervening agency of fibrous or friction discs designated 39. Disc 31 is a flange integrally associated with a collar 4I that is secured to shaft 32 as by means of a set screw, but disc 38 is a flange integrall associated with the collar 42 splined to the shaft 32 but freely movable end.- wise or longitudinally thereof in which respect it is influenced by a helical compression spring 43 which is shouldered between another splined collar 44 and the described collar 42 of flange member 38.

The other driven assembly 36 is termed a stordescribed cam assembly 35, by means of a pair of cooperating flanges 48 and 49, the former being integrally associated with the spring urged longitudinally movable collar 44 and the latter member, 49, being an integral part of the collar 5| anchored to shaft 32. Accordingly, since flange and collar members 42 and 44 are both longitudinally shiftable upon shaft 32, the common compression spring 43 acts jointly between the two of them to maintain frictional driving engagement between shaft 32 and their respective assemblies 35 and 36. In the assembly 36 fibrous frictional driving discs 52 are provided which function in the same manner as do the friction discs 39 of assembly 35.

Integrally formed with the drum 41 is an endmost cam disc 53 having a scalloped periphery as indicated in Fig. 5. Assembly 36 is free to rotate in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 5 and 6, under the influence of the drive shaft 32 when all of its transverse pawl members are disposed in their respective release positions. Under the alternative of their conditions, namely, the set positions of said pawl members 54, which is the condition portrayed by the foremost pawl '54 of Fig. 6, its latchingshoulder 55 engages that of disc 46in a notch "I6, since the pawl member "has been shifted rightwardly as viewed in this illustration compressing the individual spring 51. When in this condition a notch 58 formed in each pawl 54, Figs. 1, 2, and 6, is disposed sidewardly stop lug 53 and remains dormant untilby the actuation of a release solenoid 62 the latter members armature plunger 33 is shifted rightwardly causing the rotation of a bell crank 64 in a clockwise direction about its pivot 65 and, since one arm 66 of said bell crank is articulated to the trigger 6|, the latter member is rotated clockwise about pivot I42 as a center so that its stop projection 59 is drawn free from blocking engagement with the side of pawl '54.

Trigger '6], in addition to being pivotally supported upon the .pin I42 is also longitudinally shiftable with re- "spect thereto since said pin I42 passes through a horizontal elongated pivot slot I50 and though trigger BI is normally urged by a spring I40 'backwardly and leftwardly as viewed in Fig. -6

sothat integrally formed switch operating projection I43 is retracted permitting the contact pair I31 to stand aja'r, this condition is reversed when storage disc assembly 36 through any one of its pawls 54, when in a set condition/bears against stop projection 59, for in so doing it also shifts trigger 6| forwardly and rightwardly. Ascordingly, th arrestment of storage Wheel 36 results in the closure of contact pair I31 for a purpose which will become clearer during the course of subsequent description.

Upon the de-energization of releasesolenoid 6 which remains energized for but a brief period as will appear later, its associated elements 64 and SI are permitted to resume their original condition but meanwhile the assembly 36 is freed to resume its rotation, the particular blockingpawl 54 having been retracted from its set position in which it engages lug 59. As the particular stopping pawl 54 proceeds in its rotary path together with assembly 36, its protruding portion, Fig. 6,

engages a cam projection 61 by riding up onto its lowermost edge 68. This moves the latching end of the pawl 54 so that shoulder 55 is cammed away from locking engagement with disc 4%, spring 5! restoring said pawl to its normal position whereat notch 58 is again in the peripheral alignment to clear blocking projection 59 of trigger 6i. In Fig. 4, the solenoid 62 may be noted to be disposed lowermost of a circular arrangement of solenoids, the general class of which have been designated 69 and H, each half of the circle being constituted of ten solenoids disposed on one side and the other of the central shaft 32 with the release solenoid 62 being the twenty-first one and centrally disposed at the bottom.

Each of the classes of solenoids 69 and H comprises ten individual solenoid members having armatures 12, Fig. 5, and flat spring elements 13 against which the foremost ends of the armatures or plungers l2 engage, and which serve to restore the plungers 12 after any solenoid has been deenergized. At their opposite ends, the solenoid plungers are prevented from being removed from the assembly by the interposition of stop brackets 14. In the illustration, Fig. 8, the solenoids have been designated serially by numbers 1 to 21 as well as by the reference character designations employed in Figs. 1, 2, and 4. When any one of the solenoid armatures .12 responds to the energization of its solenoid'69 or II, it is moved rightwardly, as viewed in Fig. 2, causing its reduced projection to flex restoration springs 13 and to engage the rounded extremity-15 of its associated latchable pawl 54 moving the latter member sidewardly, as best indicated in Fig. 6

5'! until its shoulder 55 becomes hooked overthe end of its individual slot 16 in disc 46.

Thus it'is to be understood that as assembly '35 is brought to rest when a particular one of its'stop pawls 54 engages the shoulder59 of trigger 5!, the last operated one of said pawls 54 thus constitutes a new zero position. Following the arrestment of assembly 36, there-may be. obtained ,a number of angular positions between it and any one of the remaining pawls 54 that might become set by the energization of any of the solenoids 69 and'H numerically designatedfrom I to 2D in Fig. 8. The energization of any one of said solenoids is effected by the manipulation of a key bar in a keyboard unit designated by the general reference character H which prepares a circuit traceable over an individual .line in cable 18 through the winding. of one of the solenoids 69101 H to the common return circuit 19. While the closure of one of the key bars 8| of unit 11 prepares a circuit for energizing one of the solenoids 69 or H by placing ground on one of the lines in cable 18, the energization of said solenoid awaits the completion of the circuit when current is placed upon the common return wire 19 by the closure of contact pair 82 at a precise one of a plurality of regularly spacedintervals under the control of a multiple apex cam 83, Figs. 2, 4, and '7.

The number of solenoids 62, 69, and H which are assembled around the central shaft 32 corresponds to the number of scalloped apexes in cam 53; As a result, when assembly 36 is permitted to rotate from a previously established zero position, where it has been arrested due to the blocking of one of its pawls 54 with shoulder 59, to a subsequent position which may be of any number of angular steps from 1 to 20 in terms of'the angular distances between adjacent pawls 54, cam '53 will pass a corresponding number of its scalloped apexes under the follower roller 84 reciprocating the lever. arm 85 upon which said roller 84 is carried about itsanchored pivot 85 so that its free end through the articulation pin 81 will induce a corresponding motion to the vertically disposed tandem bar 38.

As a result of the movement of tandem bar 88 vertically in a reciprocating motion, there is transmitted a corresponding rocking movement to each one of a plurality of cradles 89 which are pivoted as at 9| to said bar 83. Since each one of the cradles is also pivoted as at 92 to a pair of stationary upright members 93, the movement transmitted to the several cradles 89 will cause them to rock in clockwise and counterclockwise motion correspondingly rocking the mercury tube switches 22 whichare held in clamp members 94 especially provided for this purpose in each one of said cradles 89. Accordingly, the number of reciprocations imparted to the several tubes 22 will in turn eifect the opening and closure of individual circuits, Fig. 8, to the alarm tolling bells 95 generating audible signals comprised of a plurality of successive gong soundings to denote to fire station attendants certain information such as already explained above. i i

Each unit in the keyboard TI consists of an alignment of key bars Bl representing a decimal position and individually supported in a removable unit section 96, certain structural features of which form the subject matter of the aforementioned copending application filed on even date herewith. Of the several keyboard sections, a particular one designated 91 resembling in' mechanical details those of the four sections 96, is especially provided with circuit connections to the solenoids H while the keyboard units 96 wired in parallel over lines within cable 18 are connected to the solenoids 69. Accordingly, in the first decimal or numerical position, there being five such positions in accordance with the disclosure of Fig. 8, the number of tolling bell signals to be transmitted by means of the units II will comprise a number of gongs between I I and 2|], since the keyboard section 91, the first to be operated, is electrically connected to the solenoids II which correspond in the sequence to the eleventh to the twentieth solenoids of the series, inclusive. Subsequently, however, the operation of any of the remaining units 95 will cause to be energized the solenoids so that accordingly the signals following the first. position will be comprised of axnumber of gongs from 1 to 10, inclusive. i

In the illustration of Fi the key ard unit H. represents a device. generally similar to the keyboard illustrated in copending application, Serial No. 345,260, discussed above. only such portions of the circuit being here indicated whichconcern the operation of the going t llin apparatus Other portions-of the keyboard apparatus, as well as. of. the remainder of the aircuit illustrated in said copending application, are'to be understood as being substantially of the. type therein disclosed. Also, the requirement of providing a keyboard unit 91 and the solenoids 11 through 20 for the purpose of tolling aiarger number of integer signals than the primary number of from 1 to 10, is by way of illustrating an arbitrary enlargement of the fundamental disclosure. If a. larger number of decimal positions than the five illustrated in Fig. 8 and represented by the five keyboard sectionsxlt and 81 are desired, it is but necessary to provide such additional sections in the keyboard H and in the cam distributor 3.5 to provide additional distribution cams and thereby there may be obtained a system in which the number of call digits will be correspondingly increased.

In the illustration of a cam assembly 35,111 Figs. 1, 2, and 7, space has been provided for accommodating a larger number of cams than. there are integer sections in the keyboard unit It. Some indication of the additional number of digits which may be accommodated can he. learned from observing the number of unused spacings in Fig. 7' which are not. filled in by timing cams such as. the ones designated 98, 98, I'M, I02, and N33. The relationship between the cams 98 to I63 and the. contact pairs in Fig. -8 may be understood. by comparing the arrangement of the cams: with the schematic showing of the contact pairs in Fig. Thus cam 99, the first of its class as shown in Fig. 7, controls the closing simultaneously of two contact pairs designated HM and i8 5. Cam 98 controls the closure of two contact pairs. designated I at and H31; cam IOI controls the closure of two contact pairs M8 and H39; cam Hi2 closes the contact pairs IN and H2, and cam. )3 controls in the same manner closure'of contact pairs I23 and I24. The brief apex cam Hi3! controls a single contact pair ll hthe cam H5 whose apex continuous but for a brief angle controls the closure simultaneously of three contact. pairs designated Hi, 8., and H9, and the multiple apex cams 83 and rah-disposed. in staggered relation one from the other, each controls an individual contact pair designated &2- and I2Z..

' Subsequently, .in the'description, the control circuits and the mannerin which the. several cams of assembly 35. operate their contact; pairs, will be explained in detail with. specific reference to h ir i n ti nal purpose. For the present it will sufiice to note that during the normal or zero position of the assembly 35., which is an invariable position, all of the. contact: pairs; remain open with the. s exc ption of contact. pair I l twhich is under the supervision of cam M3; The closure of this contact pair prepares, a circuit, which enables ground to be introduced upon the closure of a manual'key lever I25. over line I26 throu h the cam heldcontact pair. I M, winding; of release magnet I211, line 128, to the positive-currentsotnca Release magnet I21, as may be observed from Figs. land 3, is situated so that, its pivotedarmature i29. during the die-energized conditionof ma net I -Ll will block by means or its shoulder tooth l3I any of a number. of peripheral teeth I32 of a stop disc I33 depending upon the possible number of contact sets which are to be operated thereby. I

As soon as-the. assembly 35 starts to rotate under impetus of the driving discs 31 and 38 of shaft 32, the release being efiected upon the energize.- tion of magnet 21, the apex-of cam [I3 rides all its follower lever I34,'Fig. l, and as a result'the contact pair H4. ispermitted to come aiar since eachone of the follower levers such as I34 is provided with an individual spring I35 suited to this performanca as best indicated in Fig. 4. As soon as the contact pair I I4 opens, the control over magnet I21 by the manual start key I25 is withdrawn andthereafter magnet 12? in order to remain-energized obtains ground from a source supervised by cam I t6 whose apex, Fig. 7, continues over a peripheral angle that is substantially the. complement of 360 from the apex angle of cam H3;

Referring now'to Fig. 8. it will be. noted that contact pair III, which is one of three contact pairs under the supervision of cam IIG, becomes efiective alternatively withcontact pair Ill, insofar as introducing ground to the winding of magnet {21 is concerned... Whereas contact pair H4 is connected over line I26 to the. ground supplied upon the closure of button I25, contact pair I I1 supplies ground from a source M1 over a line I-ifi through the. closed contact pair [31, linev I38, contact pair I 58 which is. closed during the same time that contact pair H1 is closed, over line (69, contact pair hit, to a ground source- I'4'I.

It is to be understood, of course, that in setting up the keyboard I'I for the purpose of transmitting a message, the'key barsfll of one or more of the integer. sections 96 or 9.1 arev actuated heiore thestart key I25 is. actuated, and in accordance therewith a. contact point I44 or one; of the ten integer lead wires I39 is. brought. into: electrioal contact. with a common bus I45, and also the conductor Ml of each unit is'closed with a conductor 53. As. a consecniencer groundv is placed on line MI, and the'twenty-first solenoid 62 is conditioned for. energization which energization is completed when contact. pair I22 is closed by the multipleapex cam IL2I. Asa result of thesenergization or solenoid 62:,see Fig. 6, its armature. is, projected rightwardly as in the case of the general class. of armatures 12, bed. crank 6:4 is rocked clockwise about: pivot and member BII is pivoted clockwise causing it to be pivoted'about its. mounting screw M2. This movement. releasesstriggerfill to itsyretractile spring I40; and the. downwardly extending arm I, which had been holding closed. the contact; pair I31, is permitted to recede; therefrom breaking the. ground circuit toithe magnet I21 and thereat causing to. be" arrested the. further rotation of cam assembly 35 because the armature IZ'Q' will at. once engage. an: oncoming tooth I'32 of the stop disc I33.

.As a. further result: of the energization of magnet -6;2(, and one which has already" been mentioned above, blocking projection 59 will bewithdrawn from. a previously set oneof the. pawls: 54 that had been holding the. assembly 36. against rotation. and. .inconsequence, this assembly wi-ll be permitted to; rotate in a counterclockwise direction. as'viewed inFi'g. 5,. carrying with it the scalloped. canrrttv and through. it causing. to be oscillated the entire cradle assembly including tandembar. tiland the: multipleswitches'z'l The number. of oscillations; which are permitted to'be made by assembly 36 will depend upon the angular distance between the previously set pawl 54 which had been holding the assembly through its engagement with blocking tooth 59 and the'newly set pawl 54 which is dislodged by the operation of one of the integer keyboard sections 96 and 91 and which will again cause the arrestment of said assembly.

When the key bars ili are depressed, there is effected in each case a closure of one of a contact pair I44, Fig. 8, which is electrically connected over one of the lead wires I32 of cable 18 with a particular solenoid 69 or H, and a common bus bar I45 which ultimately obtains ground. Also as a result of the energization of any key bar 8! of an integer set, there is effected a closure of the common contact pair designated I46 individual to each integer set 96 or 91. The contact pair I46 consists of one contact which is connected to the twenty-first solenoid 62 and another contact which is connected to oneof the lower rows of cam contact pairs I64, I96; I68, III, or I23, Fig.8.

As a result of the closure of any contact pair I46, ground is introduced from source I41, manual switch contact pair I48, line I49, through the contact pair I I8 which remains closed during the long apex period of cam II6, 1ine II, the particular one of the'above-mentioned pairs of contacts I64, I06, etc.,relatingto the associated integer section 96 'or 91, through the particular wire in cable I52 which relates to said integer sections, thence over its individual line I53, contact pair I46 and the twenty-first magnet line wire I4I through the'winding of solenoid 62, line I54, contact pair I22, which is closed twenty-one times during the cycle of rotation of cam assembly 35, to positive current source.

The tollingunit I I is driven by the motor 23 asexplained in the foregoing described copending application. At each outlying station, therefore, in addition to the provision of the afore-described means for'creating an audible signal indicative of destination station identification or/and any other information desired to be thus communicated, there is also provided means for making a printed record of this and other information such as time signals, etc.,' within the contemplation of the disclosure in said copendingapplication'.

There having been explained above a structural description of the toll bell operating unit as well as the circuit connections incident to the keyboard which supervise the performance of said unit, there will now be described in more particular detail, a typical cycle of operation under the supervision of the keyboard apparatus in order that the precise sequence of functional responses may be related in the order of their occurrence. Accordingly, let it be assumed that a station identifying signal together with such other information as is desired to be broadcast by means of the tolling gong, consists of the composite codal number 143-91--2.

It is incumbent upon the keyboard operator to that the motor 23 of the tolling apparatus I I is in operation: In accordance with this arbitrary conception, the keyboard operator at the central office will depress the key tops 8| of integer sections 91 in the number 4 position which, as explained above, corresponds to the fourteen integer solenoid II, thereby preparing the keyboard for transmission of 14 gong signals; the number 3 key bar 8| of the left-hand unit 96 which will prepare for the transmission of the number 3 integer; the number 9 key top 8| in the second unit 96; the number 1 key top 8| in the third unit 96, and finally, the number 2 key top BI in the last unit 96, the foregoing order being readable from left to right as viewed in Fig. 8.

Following the setting up of the code number upon the keyboard 11, the operator will close the manual start key I25 and introduce ground upon line I26 through contact pair I I4, which is closed during the rest position of the unit I I, windingof start magnet I21, line I28, to positive. As a result, magnet I21 will become energized and will attract its armature I29 withdrawing stop shoulder I3! from the tooth in wheel I33 which corresponds to the zero arrestment position.

Cam assembly 35 will then be initiated into rotation under the driving impetus of shaft 32 and its associated driving discs 31 and 28 which act through the frictional driving discs 39 upon said assembly 35. As soon as contact pair H4 is permitted to open in consequence of the riding off by apex of cam MB of the contact pair I I4, see Fig. 4, the long apex cam H6 will close the three contact pairs H1, H8, and [I9 simultaneously. As a result of the closure of contact pair II1, ground will be supplied to the winding of magnet I21 from a circuit including line I36, contact pair I31, line I38, contact pair H6, line I42, contact pair I48, to ground at I41. The rotation of the cam assembly 35 will continue until the first one of the class of cams which close contact pairs IIJ5IG4,' I06-Iil1, etc., will become effective. In the order in which the arrangement of cams is laid out in accordance with Fig. 7, the first one of these to become effective is cam 99 acting upon contact pairs I04 and I05. As a result of the closure of these contact pairs, there will be energized the number 14 solenoid H and thetwenty-first or storage disc release solenoid 62 over the following circuit.

Beginning at positive current source, the circuit continues through the contact pair 82, common'wire 19, through the winding of the number 14 solenoid 1I, its particular line I39 in cable 18 to the contact point I 44, its particular common bus' I45 in its associated bank 91, thence over anindividual line in cable I 52 through contact pair I95, line I5I, contact pair IIB, line I49, contact pair MS to ground at I41. As a result, the number 14; solenoid 1I will become energized and will cause to bedisplaced the pawl 54 which happens to be fourteen angular positions distance from the previously arrested pawl 54. As a result of the closure of contact pair 82 which occurs substantially simultaneously with the closure of the several contacts on cam II6, a circuit is completed for the energization of the twentyfirst or assembly S'release magnet 62. This is traceable from positive current, through the contact pair I22, line I54, winding of solenoid 62, line IM of cable 18, and its associated contact pair I45, line I53 thereof, and its related continuation in cable I52 through the contact pair I64, line I5I, contact pair H8, over line I49 through contact pair I48, to ground at I41.

'As a result of the energization of the storage disc release magnet 62, the disc 36 is started into rotation and the cam assembly 35 is arrested. In consequence of the energization of solenoid 62, its armature causes bell crank 64 to be rocked in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig, 6. This releases the wheel 36 for rotation but also onaccount of its articulation with bar (H which is pivoted at 2, contact pair I31 is opened when said member 6|, acting against its spring 146 withdraws projection M3 from said contact pair. In consequence of this, armature I29 is permitted to present its stop shoulder I3l into the path of oncoming tooth I32 in stop disc I33. Meanwhile, wheel I35 is permitted to rotate through an angular distance equivalent to fourteen of the consecutive angles represented by the pallets 54.

This rotation carrying with it scalloped cam 55-causes to be initiated fourteen tolling gong signals to the several circuits connecting to the goings 95. Because the projections on multiple apex cam I2I are of such short duration, contact pair I22 is opened before the assembly wheel 35 comes to rest and as a result solenoid 62 again becomes de-energized permitting itscircuit at contact pair I31 to become closed. Meanwhile magnet I21 may not again become reenergized because its associated contact pair at one of the cams 98, 93, II, etc, is no longer in position to hold closed its contact pair IM, ")5, I86, I61, etc.

Assembly wheel 36 will then come to rest when the set pawl 54 encounters'shoulder 59 of stop trigger 43!. Upon the collision between pawl 54 and shoulder 59, member 6| is moved forwardly, as viewed in Fig. 6, in accordance with the provision made at pivot I52 where elongated hole I 50 is provided in trigger 31. As a result of the forward motion of trigger 6|, the bulbous extremity I33 again closes contact pair I31 and thereupon magnet I21 may become reenergized attracting its armature I29 and again freeing the cam assembly 35 to rotation.

Assembly 35 will continue to rotate until thenext succeeding one of the contact pairs relating to the keyboard banks 96 is encountered. This contact pair is the one designated I06 and I01 which is closed by. the cam 98, Fig. 7. As a result of the closure of. contact pairs I06 and I01, circuits are established traceable from positive current source through contact pair 82 which is momentarily closed by one of the apices of multiple apex cam 83, line 19 through the winding of the number 3 solenoid 69. thence over individual line I39 relating to said solenoid in the cable 18 to contact point M4- and its associated common bus bar I45, thence through its individual line in cable I52, contact pair I01, line I 5I, contact pair 8', line 149, contactpair I48, to ground at I41. This energizes storage relay 3 while at the same time through the closure of contact pair I66 a circult is completed traceable from positive through contact pair I22which is momentarily closed by reason of the briex apex of multiple apex cam I2l which closes its contact pair I22 shortly after the contact pair 82 is closed, thence over line I54, through the winding of the solenoid 52, its individual line wire I4! of cable 18, through the particular pair of contacts I55 relating to the integer unit in which the next operated key lever 8| is depressed, thence out over line I53 of cable I52 through the contact pair I 06, line I 5I, contact pair H8, line Hi9, contact pair I48, to ground at I41. Asa result of the energization of solenoid 62 contact pair i3? is opened after the manner alreadyv described, thus de-energizing start magnet I21 and permitting the cam assembly 35 again to be arrested upon armature shoulder I3I encountering an oncoming tooth I32.of stop disc I33. As a further result of; the energization of solenoid 62, assembly 36-is released to rotation and in this case will continue to rotate through an angle equivalent to three intervening angles between the pallets 54-andwill come to rest when thepallet whichhad been lined up with the number 3 solenoid and which had been displaced by the energization thereof encounters the stop lug 59 of trigger GI.

During the transit of the assembly 36, its

scalloped cam 55 causes to be rocked the cradle assembly including lever 85, tandem bar 88, and the several cradles 89 whereupon all of the mercury switch tubes 22 open and close their respective circuits generating exciting impulses for the gongs and sounding out a number of audible gong signals corresponding to the number of cam apexes which pass follower roller 84, in the instant case three.

Thus the operation proceeds on to the third release of cam assembly 35 in response to which nine impulses are generated and a total of nine signals causedto be broadcast by the gongs 95 during the succeeding interval and followed thereafter by a similar periodduring which a single gong signal is broadcast and, in correspondence with the last integer, two gong signals are broadcast as the final caml 03 eifects its tunetion of closing the contact pairs I23'and I24.

- When following the transmission of the final signal, storage assembly 36 for the last timeencounters trigger 6| and causes the closure-ofcontact pairs I31, a circuit is established for energizing release magnet I21 which remains'energized until its circuit is brokenat contact pairs H1, H8, and H9. Of these the contact pair H1 is eifective to interrupt the flow of ground from source I41 and because the contact-pair at I25 is-not then manually energized, magnet I21 will thereat become de-energized and the cam assembly 35 will be arrested in its zero position; namely, withcam- II3 disposed so that its apex closes the contact pair 4 inreadiness for a subsequent message signal transmission.

While the present invention has been explained without departure from its essential spirit or scope. Accordingly, it is not intended to be limited by the specific language employed in the foregoing specification nor by the particular details in the accompanying illustrations except as indicated in the hereunto appended claims.

What is claimed'is:

' 1. In a numerical tolling system, apparatus for generating interruptions comprising a continuously rotatable shaft, a cam' assembly frie tionally driven by. saidshaft, a storage device frictionally driven by said shaft, keyboard supervised means for transferring the control among successive cams of said cam assembly in accordance with decimal components of a code, means for storing a signal condition in said storagedevice representing a numerical integer of a decimal position, and a series of circuit breakers operated bysaid storage device in accordance with the numerical integer stored in said device.

- 2. In an alarm sounding system, a keyboard apparatus comprising a plurality of rows of keys each having a number of circuit controlling contacts and a common contact, a rotary storage device, a mechanism for generating a'number of alarm signals in accordance with the number of predetermined angles of rotation imparted to said storage device, and circuit means under the control of said controlling and common contacts of said rows of keys consecutively for controlling the rotation of said storage device according to angle.

3. In a signaling mechanism, a rotatable signal controlling apparatus having a plurality of settable storage members at equally spaced angular distances on the periphery thereof, a CiI'C'll-u lar arrangement of stationary electromagnets in alignment with said settable members when said apparatus is at rest, mechanical transfer means associated with each one of said settable members and operated by any of said electromagnets when in alignment therewith for setting said members, and means for restoring said settable members to normal position after, releasing said apparatus to rotation.

i. A signaling apparatus comprising in combination, a plurality of reciprocable cradles, a rotatable assembly including a cam having peripheral characteristics for reciprocating said cradles, a plurality of angularly spaced settable members carried by said rotatable assembly and electromagnetic means for displacing each one of said settable members and for releasing to rotation said rotatable assembly so as to impart a total angle of rotation to said cam corresponding to the number of settable members from a previous arrested position to the position of disbination comprising, a rotating shaft, a storage assembly frictionally carried by said shaft and having a number of peripherally disposed longitudinally displaceable settable elements, a corresponding plurality of electromagnets stationarily supported in alignment each to each with said settable elements, a stop trigger, one of said electromagnets comprising a release for operating said trigger, and the rest of said electromagnets effective to displace said elements from their unset to their set positions.

6. In a tolling system, apparatus for generating signals over a plurality of circuits simultaneously comprising a continuously rotatable shaft, an integer selecting cam assembly comprising a series of cams driven by said shaft, a signal impulse storage device rotated by said shaft, and keyboard supervised means for transferring the control from one cam to another of said series in accordance with successive decimal positions of a code message and for storing a signal condition in said storage device correspond ing to the integer of a decimal position.

7. In a fire alarm system, a keyboard apparatus comprising a plurality of rows of integer keys, each row having a number of circuit controlling elements corresponding to a decimal position and a release contact set, a signal transmission unit comprising a rotary integer storage device and a cam assembly including one cam for each decimal position, a mechanism having reciprocal motion in accordance With the number of predetermined angles of rotation imparted to said storage device, and circuit, means under the control of said key rows sequentially and to said contact set for transferring the supervision from one cam to another of said cam assembly and for thereby rotating said storage device and reciprocal motion mechanism through a number of degrees of rotation a number of times corresponding to the integer of an operated key.

'8. In a signal storage mechanism, a rotary device having peripherally and at equally spaced nation a plurality of cradles, a rotatable assembly including a cam for reciprocating said cradies, circuit breakers carried by said cradles, a plurality of members carried by said assembly, means for positioning said members and for releasing to rotation said assembly to describe an angle of rotation corresponding to the distance from its previous arrested position to the one of said positioned settable member.

10. Means for generating interruptions in a plurality of circuits simultaneously comprising in combinaticn'a plurality of mercury switch elements supported in reciprocable cradle members, a leverage system for reciprocating said cradle members, a cam having a number of peripheral apices corresponding to the number of reciprocations to be imparted to said lever system during a cycle of rotation, and a device frictionally driven in integral relation with said cam including a series of peripheral elements corresponding in number to that of the apices of said cam and operative to be displaced to intercept a characteristic number of cam apices following a preceding arrestment of said device.

11. In a signal impulse generating unit, the combination including a continuously rotatable shaft, a plurality of cams driven through frictional coupling by said shaft and corresponding to successive decimal components of signals, a frictionally driven rotatable member having a plurality of peripheral storage elements each corresponding to an integer of said decimal positions, keyboard supervised means for releasing to rotation said cam assembly to select a decimal,

and circuit means under the supervision of-said plurality of cams for releasing said storage device to rotation to select an integer.

12. In a system of signal transmission, a keyboard apparatus having a plurality of sets of integer keys, means for storing a signal upon the manual depression of any key lever of a set, a rotary signal generating device comprising a plurality of storage members each corresponding to an integer, trigger means for arresting said rotatable device by the blocking of a displaced storage member, and a cam distributor comprising a plurality of cams each for associating successive integer key sets of said keyboard with said storage device.

13. In a signal transmission system, a keyboard device, a continuously rotatable shaft, a storage device frictionally driven by said shaft, a cam device frictionally driven by said shaft, a plural-' ity of sets of key bars in Said keyboard device each set relating to a decimal position and each key bar of aset relating to an integer of a decimal position, a plurality of cams in said cam device each related to a decimal position of said keyboard device, a plurality of storage elements in said storage device each related to an integer of a decimal position, and means comprising circuit connections between said keyboard and said stor-- disposed to align with said series of stops during arrestment of said apparatus, one of said series of actuators operative to release a set one of said stops when the latter is disposed in effective position, and the remainder of said actuators disposed to set said stop in efl'ective condition.

15. In combination, a keyboard apparatus having a plurality of sets of integer keys, a rotary signal generating device'comprising a plurality of storage members each corresponding to an integer, means for storing a signal in said device upon the manual depression of any key lever of a set, means for arresting said rotatable device by the blocking of a displaced storage element, and a cam distributor comprising a plurality of cams each for associating successive integer sets of said keyboard with said storage device.

- 16. Incombination with akeyboard device, a continuously, rotatable shaft, a storage deviceand a cam device each frictionally drivenby said shaft, a plurality ofsets of key bars in said keyboard device each set relating to a decimal position and'each key bar of a set relating to an integer of the decimal system, a plurality of cams in said'cam device each related to a key bar set of said keyboard device, a plurality of storage elements in said storage device each related to an integer, and means under the supervision of said cam device for associating key bar sets of said keyboard with said storage device in a predetermined sequence.

17. In a, fire alarm system, a plurality of keyboards for storing decimal integers, a constantly rotating shaft, a cam assembly frictionally driven by said shaft, a cam on said cam assembly corresponding to each of said keyboards, a single integer storage assembly irictionally driven by said' shaft, and means under the control of said cams to set successively said single integer storage assembly corresponding to the integers stored in said keyboards to generate tolling impulses.

WALTER J. ZENNER. 

